GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA (September 7, 2019) -- The King's College women's volleyball team showed balanced efforts on both ends of the ball as the Monarchs defeated both the host Griffins of Gwynedd Mercy University and the Nittany Lions of Penn State Brandywine to improve to 5-0 on the season.

vs. Gwynedd Mercy:

In the opening match of the day, the Griffins battled the Monarchs, handing the Monarchs their first set loss of the season in set two before the Monarchs rallied to win two straight sets and secure the victory, 3-1. The first set saw 11 lead changes and neither team led by more than two points before a kill by sophomore Grace Frati and a Griffins error gave the Monarchs the four-point lead to post the final 25-21 tally.

The second set went to the Griffins, as they jumped to an early 4-1 lead and set the tone for that set. The Monarchs rallied to tie the score, 7-7, on two kills by sophomore Olivia Bunch, a kill by sophomore Taylor Mueller, and a Griffins error. Gwynedd Mercy responded with a 10-3 run to give a 17-10 lead before the Monarchs responded with a run of their own, outscoring the Griffins 9-3 to pull within one, 20-19, but could not inch any closer as the Griffins posted the final, 25-21.

King's jumped out to an early 12-7 lead in the third set led by five kills from Frati. The remainder of the set saw both teams trade scores with the Griffins inching within two, 21-19, before kills by sophomore Becca Goldberg and freshman Marta Pawka and two Griffin errors posted the set final, 25-21, and giving the Monarchs the 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set.

In the final set of this match, the Monarchs maintained at least a two-point lead as they battled to post the set final, 25-19. The Monarchs held a commanding 20-13 lead before the Griffins went on a 6-1 run, closing within two, 21-19. King's then closed the set scoring the final four points of the match on a kill by Frati, a service ace by sophomore Toni Galasso, and two Griffins errors.

The Monarchs held a balanced attack in this match, as three Monarchs totaled double-digit kills and five recorded double-digit digs. Pawka had the first double-double performance of her collegiate career, totaling 15 kills and 10 digs with a .298 hitting percentage, and Frati added her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 24 digs. Mueller led the defense with 27 digs, and Goldberg rounded out the top attackers with 11 kills. The Monarchs tallied 10 blocks led by sophomore Cleo Schultz with four and Goldberg and sophomore Danielle Kitchner with three each.

As a team, the Monarchs out-scored the Griffins in all team statistical categories including kills (52-47), service aces (11-5), blocks (10-5), assists (47-43), and digs (111-107).

vs. Penn State Brandywine:

In the second match of the day, the Monarchs remained in control the entire way. As a team, they recorded more kills (40-19), aces (6-4), blocks (8-5), and assists (26-17) than the Nittany Lions. Frati continued her strong performance, leading the team in kills with 11 and recording six digs for the defense. Sophomore Christie Brown also had a solid offensive day totaling eight kills. Mueller led the defense again with 10 digs. At the net, Kitchner and freshman Kayla Sondberg both recorded four blocks, and Brown added three of her own.

King's College women's volleyball is back in action on Monday on the road completing their four game road stretch as they face Penn State Hazleton on Monday, September 9 at 6:00 pm before returning home on Wednesday to face the Highlanders of Cairn University at 6:00 pm in McGrane Gymnasium.